NEW YORK – Calvin Pryor had been a member of the Jets for less than an hour, and here he was, in the bowels of Radio City Music Hall, being asked to consider the first thing that comes to mind when he thinks about this franchise.

He paused for only a moment.

“Defense,” he said.

Spot-on. Lately, under defensive-minded coach Rex Ryan, the Jets have indeed built their identity around that side of the football.

On Thursday night, for the fifth straight year, the Jets used their first pick in the NFL Draft on a defensive player. They have now picked six defensive players in the first round over that span, including two last year. The latest, Pryor at No. 18 on Thursday, came in a year when the Jets had glaring needs at wide receiver and cornerback.

Not that their safety position looked sterling. One of their projected starting safeties, Dawan Landry, is 31 years old. The other, third-year pro Antonio Allen, remains unproven as an every-down player. Last season, the Jets signed future Hall of Famer Ed Reed midseason to replace Allen, a former seventh-round pick.

Reed, 35, was just so-so last year, and the Jets let him walk in free agency. Now they have decided to make another hard-hitting safety, Pryor, part of the rebuilding process for their secondary, as a likely challenger to Allen. Last season, the Jets’ passing defense was almost as much of a liability as their passing offense. They ranked 22nd in the NFL in passing yards allowed and 31st in passing yards gained.

When the Jets’ pick arrived Thursday, Michigan State corner Darqueze Dennard was available. So was Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks. Also on the board: Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, rated by some analysts as a better safety than Pryor.

The Jets passed on them all, in favor of Pryor, a 5-11, 207-pounder whom Ryan called “an enforcer.” Last season, Pryor knocked an opponent out of three consecutive games. He picked off seven passes in his three-year college career, including three last year.

Before the draft, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock called Pryor “maybe most fearless defensive back I saw on tape this year.” Pryor said he models his game after Seattle safety Kam Chancellor, known for his vicious, game-changing hits.

As Pryor prepared for the draft, the Jets were the last visit he made. While talking with Ryan at the team’s facility in Florham Park, he was able to get a read on their defense.

"I felt like it fit excellent because it was something similar to what we did in college," Pryor said.

Ryan said Pryor is versatile enough to play deep or close to the line. Pryor, though, acknowledged he must now demonstrate that one of his perceived weaknesses entering this draft is not so much of an issue. And the way Ryan runs his defensive scheme will allow him this opportunity.

“The main thing is showing people I can really play man to man, and I can match up with tight ends and slot receivers,” Pryor said.

He will have to do it while in a competition for playing time. When he was asked about this challenge, to battle for snaps as a rookie, Pryor offered another answer that sounded as swift as one of his hits looks.